Glimmers
Those of us who have survived complex trauma understand all too well the concept and actions of triggers. Triggers can throw us back to times in our lives when we were abused and otherwise harmed, leaving us shaken and reliving the past.
However, have you ever heard of glimmers?
This article will focus on glimmers and how to have more.
Polyvagal Theory
The first thing we need to examine before we go into what glimmers are is to understand polyvagal theory. Polyvagal theory1, the brainchild of Stephen Porges, a neuroscientist, explains how the mammalian brain evolved an autonomic nervous system that allows for adaptive behavioral strategies.
The theory states that the presence or absence of a perceived threat can activate parts of the brain and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), producing physical states such as the fight/flight/freeze responses. The autonomic nervous system contains three anatomically significant divisions: the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric.
When the ANS malfunctions because of exposure to complex trauma, it affects how we perceive our world and changes our perceptions, causing us to behave in typical situations as though it is dangerous.
However, glimmers can help mitigate the effects of a malfunctioning autonomic nervous system connected to trauma.
What On Earth Are Glimmers?
The term glimmers was coined by Deb Dana, a psychotherapist and author, in 2018, who worked closely with Stephen Porges. Dana created the term glimmers to describe small moments of joy or peace that make us feel calm, safe, and connected to one another.
Glimmers are the opposite of triggers and help our nervous system feel safe and calm instead of hyping up the sympathetic system. Research has shown that feeling safe and calm positively impacts your mental health.
Examples of glimmers might be:
- Walking in nature and listening to the birds.
- Petting your animals.
- Rocking your body.
- Smelling freshly baked bread.
- Smelling beautiful scents.
- Singing to yourself or humming.
Finding or creating glimmers is vital if you wish to overcome complex trauma and its effects on your life.
The Importance of Glimmers
Where triggers cause us to react harshly, glimmers calm down the amygdala, the central organelle in the brain that is always on the watch for danger even when none is present.
Glimmers are there for everyone if you look for them, and they can cause you to live longer. Research has shown that having regular experiences of positive emotions improves our physical health and decreases stress.
Other benefits to glimmers are below:
- Soothe the nervous system.
- Increase how long you live.
- Activate your social engagement system.
- Shift your nervous system’s response to stimuli from defense to calmness.
- Helps to foster feelings of trust, well-being, and safety.
- It will help you be better able to learn.
Glimmers help you remain in the present moment instead of being stressed about what will happen in the future by promoting calm and joy. Psychologists say that glimmers improve your mood and desire for sex, plus increase your motivation to accomplish your life goals. By calming the nervous system, you will also become less anxious, sleep better, and feel better overall.
Triggers
As stated above, glimmers are the opposite of triggers, so to understand glimmers better, we’ll examine a discussion about triggers together. When you feel triggered, you activate your fight or flight response, causing you to experience many emotions, such as anger, fear, or anxiety. Your body responds by releasing adrenaline and cortisol, also known as stress hormones, to prepare you to respond.
When you experience a trigger, you have encountered a stimulus that causes you to have an intense emotional response. Some common triggers are a smell, sight, or sound, and sometimes situations that remind you of your past trauma.
Triggers cause your amygdala to activate, but it doesn’t often know what it is responding to as the trigger might not be dangerous, yet your body doesn’t know the difference. The release of stress hormones can cause you to shake, sweat, and have a racing heart.
Glimmers can help someone who is easily triggered to gain control of their responses. For example, if you practice looking for glimmers when you are not triggered, you will be more capable of looking for them when your amygdala hijacks you.
How You Can Notice Glimmers in Your Life
No matter who you are, you can find glimmers by training yourself to be aware and notice your emotions. Mindfulness, the practice of living in the present moment, is vital if you are to enjoy glimmers.
Mindfulness involves being engaged in whatever you are doing, freeing yourself from distractions, not judging yourself, and observing your feelings and thoughts without getting too involved and getting caught in them.
It is crucial to remember that glimmers are both big and small and quick moments, such as enjoying a good meal with a friend or feeling a cool breeze on your face. Glimmers are different from person to person and can help people with a trauma history to overcome some of the effects by reconnecting them to their mind and body.
Ending Our Time Together
Glimmers have aided me in my healing journey by helping me to see that all is not negative or lost because of the abuse I endured as a child. When I feel overwhelmed, I seek out the good things around me to help me get and remain grounded.
I realize that noticing glimmers when stressed or overwhelmed is difficult, but if you try to do so, you will find yourself smiling and feeling calm more often. Life is one big stressful mess; however, many good things are around you. Take the time to look.
Hug your significant other or your pet and feel the warmth and calm spread throughout your body. I know I will.
“There’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.” – Stephen Chbosky.
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” – Roy T. Bennett.
References
- Porges, S. W. (2022). Polyvagal theory: a science of safety. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 16, 27.